Transit Workers Undaunted By Storm
Friday, March 11, 2011(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Rain doesn't stop Metro's trains and buses, so Thursday
morning's downpour -- including the threat of a tornado -- didn't deter hundreds
of transit workers from rallying outside WMATA headquarters in downtown DC to
protest what their union, ATU 689, calls union-busting, with members working the
last two and a half years without a contract. “Unions are being made the
scapegoat for poor management in city after city and state after state,” said
Local 689 President Jackie Jeter as rain pelted the picketline. “We say No to
anyone who wants to trample the rights of workers,” she added. “We say Yes
to organized protests and massive demonstrations to support unions and the
rights of all workers, organized and unorganized. Yes to collective bargaining,
and Yes to job security. We have the numbers and we are united!” - report/photo by Chris Garlock